UPDATE Valley Swim Club Racism

So now the story has made the major media outlets: ABC news, CNN and others. But the best news is that Senator Arlen Specter is launching an investigation into the club’s practices. Keep at it, Senator.

UPDATED with video link: CNN showed a little boy named Marcus Allen crying as he told the story of what was said to him. I want to cry, too.

Racism Still Rampant in Philly?

I am still so shocked by the story of the black and Hispanic day campers who were kicked out (after paying a fee) of the Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, PA simply because they were–shocker!–not white. I am even more shocked that despite the story getting some play on Facebook and Twitter, it hasn’t really hit the mainstream media outlets yet.

It should be a front page story. Club president John Duesler’s best explanation was that the campers “changed the complexion” of the club…if that was seriously the best explanation he can think of, then he has no problems being racist and deserves to endure all the consequences of his actions, which so far have included a flooded voicemail box, a flooded email inbox, and a website that as of this writing has gone out of commission.

On the off-chance any current members of the Valley Swim Club are reading this, I urge you to resign your membership in protest (and insist on getting your money back as well). If you don’t, you are just as racist as Duesler. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing.

UPDATE: Many updates are here on a blog at Daily Kos. Protest Today at the club at 5:30 pm!

Those Cheapskates Barack and Michelle

Well, it’s not really Barack and Michelle Obama who are cheap. But this list of White House salaries has me concerned for these poor staffers. You know they are working their butts off and are so stressed out, probably never see their families and in many cases had to relocate to get these positions. These salaries are not commensurate with those sacrifices (or what the staffers could get on the open market). Let’s hope that after they all serve a decent time, they can parlay their experience into more lucrative positions.

Idle Gossip: Is Michelle Obama Pregnant?

No, I don’t think she is. But look at all these high-waisted outfits she’s been wearing recently, especially over the past few days, and the slightly noticeable “bump”:
 

1. Black and white dress in Moscow
2. Peach outfit in Moscow
3. High-waisted floral to board Air Force One
4. Fourth of July super pregnant-looking dress

Now again, I don’t really think she is, as I know Barack and Michelle have stated publicly that they are “done” with childbearing, and they recently adopted a new “baby”, Bo the Wonderpup. And these things happen to women’s bellies as they age (don’t we all know). But wouldn’t it be fun if there were a little baby in the White House?

Idle Gossip: Is Sarah Palin on Drugs?

Well, I don’t really think so, although this “Every Breath You Take ” video (and the comments following), sure can lead one to that thought. And when you cogitate for while, you can say well, she has a high stress job, a high stress family, and lives in the methamphetamine capital of the US (and Bristol certainly had lots of access to meth). All that coupled with her abrupt resignation from the Governor’s office? Well, one can definitely say maybe she’s going to drug rehab.

I still don’t think so; I think the crazy/dumb thing is all her and not drug fueled in any way. Although if it were drugs then at least I could make some sense of her!

Yep, the Republicans are Racists

Well, not all of them, of course.

I have long felt that there was a lot of racism in the Republican Party. But I always felt it was of the more subtle kind—like not realizing that certain assumptions they make imply racism. Well, that has all gone out the window.

In his blog on The Daily Beast, John Avlon reports on some horribly racist statements made by Young Republicans on Facebook, and the ensuing fallout from that.

There are SO many disturbing things here, but to me the worst thing is that NOTHING is happening to Audra Shay or anyone else who failed to react to these statments. You cannot call yourself the “Party of Lincoln”, claim that Sarah Palin is “attacked” only because she is a woman, and then stand idly by while racist statements are made in defense of your party and politics. If the party wants to rehabilitate itself at all, it needs to fire these people immediately.

Shay’s response said

“I immediately deleted the derogatory and outright disgusting comments and subsequently posted a statement on my Facebook Status stating that in no way, shape or form are the comments posted by other individuals a reflection of me or my beliefs as an American, a Veteran, a Mother or a Candidate. I do not, nor would I ever, condone that type of language or behavior.”

To me, that falls FAR short of saying want needs to be said, loud and clear for all to hear: that racist language has no place in the Republican Party, and those who insist on using it should feel free to leave. The party could win back a lot of now-independent voters with that one simple statement, but I suspect that many in the party are afraid of losing any remaining loyalists. Let’s see if they have the guts.

What’s the Difference Between a Hockey Mom and a Pit Bull?

Q. What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?
A. Narcissistic personality disorder

Q. What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?
A. A pit bull isn’t a quitter

Q. What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?
A. A pit bull isn’t embarrassing to the Republican Party.

Jon and Kate Without the Hate?

So radaronline.com reports that Jon and Kate Gosselin temporarily put aside their differences to get together with the kids for the Fourth of July. That’s nice. I just wish Jon weren’t setting off fireworks in their yard. Very dangerous! Leave it to the pros.

First Lady Hairstyles

So the New York Times has a cool tidbit showing all the inaugural hairstyles of our nation’s First Ladies. There is a problem with the asterisk-ing at the end of the piece–Ellen Arthur’s two asterisks should indicate that she died before her husband took office–but I imagine that error will be fixed soon. Enjoy!

Bridge to Nowhere–Top 10 Reasons for Sarah Palin’s Resignation

So Sarah Palin is resigning as Alaska’s Governor. So far, we have no indication why, but we have to assume the reason will come to light in the coming days.

Could any of these be her reason:

1. Wants to pursue playing the victim fulltime?

2. She’s Mark Sanford’s soul mate?

3. Entering a facility to handle her narcissistic personality disorder?

4. Overcome with grief over Michael Jackson’s death?

5. She is a gay American?

6. Torrid affair with Joe the Plumber?

7. Torrid affair with Jon Gosselin?

8 Torrid affair with Kate Gosselin!?!

9. Has converted and wants to replace John Travolta as posterboy for Scientology?

10. Wants to pioneer the practice of attachment grandparenting?

UPDATE: looks like it might just be (yawn) plain old corruption and embezzlement